NOTE: There are alligators in Congaree National Park. If you want to check out some of the monster trees that make up Congaree National Park's famed old-growth bottomland forest, take a hike on the Oakridge Trail, an easy 6.6-mile trek offering a Whitman's Sampler of hardwoods. Explore the many trails and paddle down the river! Round Trip Distance: 2.2 miles. Congaree National Park fits this easily. The park is also a popular spot for watching firefly displays on summer evenings. - See 534 traveler reviews, 669 candid photos, and great deals for Hopkins, SC, at Tripadvisor. From the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, follow the signs for the River Trail to reach the Congaree River, a curling ribbon of water that forms the park’s southern border. Trail Information. Trails are marked with brown blazes along with the trail number; however, many trails are in the park's wilderness area and can be impacted by downed trees and flood damage. Wildlife is abundant. Congaree National Park will be opening trails and services previously closed because of the coronavirus. Midway, the trail passes a large cypress-tupelo slough that seems to go on forever. In addition to being a designated wilderness area, a UNESCO biosphere reserve, an important bird area and a national natural landmark, Congaree National Park features primitive campsites and offers hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and bird watching. Kingsnake Trail (#6) DIFFICULT Depending on what you want to see, trails can lead you to oxbow lakes, the Congaree River, … 100 National Park Road See the gigantic loblolly pines of Congaree National Park. The Best Trails At Congaree National Park Hiking. Fish anywhere in the park, except for the Weston Lake overlook. The Congaree and Wateree Rivers wind through the park, providing the sediment and nutrients that nourish and rejuvenate this vibrant ecosystem. They are, however, usually flat with little elevation gain, making them easier to walk. The Congaree National Park is a great testament to how the Congaree River Blue Trail can connect people to a river and a park. Congaree National Park offers a wide range of opportunities to explore and experience the great outdoors. The Congaree and Wateree Rivers wind through the park, providing the sediment and nutrients that nourish and rejuvenate this vibrant ecosystem. Boardwalk Loop Trail - EASY Hike the Forest of Congaree National Park. Congaree National Park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. There is a boardwalk that stretches for almost 2.5 miles, but there are walking trails … The main attractions of this national park are held on some of South Carolina's most beautiful trails. Weston Lake Loop. The national park closed many of their trails and services because of the coronavirus. Longleaf Trail (#8) EASY There are over 25 miles of hiking trails in Congaree National Park and the Cedar Creek Canoe Trail which extends through 15 miles of the park to the Congaree River. The Congaree National Park is a great testament to how the Congaree River Blue Trail can connect people to a river and a park. Birds of Congaree National Park-Download (PDF- 161 KB)Trees, Shrubs, and Vines Partial Species List-Download (PDF- 660 KB)Fishing Regulations-Download (PDF … NATIVE IMAGE GALLEY! You’ll pass Weston... 2. Here’s a list to help you choose a few must-do hikes: CURRENT CONDITIONS: OPEN Congaree National Park is a 26,276-acre (41.1 sq mi; 106.3 km 2) American national park in central South Carolina, 18 miles south-west of the state capital, Columbia.The park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. Park visitors will find old growth forests teeming with wildlife, miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to moderately strenuous and miles of waterways in a canoe or kayak. When the river is low, a large sandbar may be visible. This short trail branches off from the Bluff Trail and provides access to the Longleaf Campground. The 50-mile Congaree River Blue Trail connects the City of Columbia, the Three Rivers Greenway, and rural communities to Congaree National Park, the largest wilderness in South Carolina. The trail takes visitors through the heart of the park, providing breathtaking views of the primeval old-growth hardwood forest. ... From the visitor center, take the Low and High Boardwalk Trails … Congaree National Park is a 27,000-acre expanse in Hopkins. Congaree National Park will be opening trails and services previously closed because of the coronavirus. Canoe Trail Information. Whether you are looking for a short hike on the Boardwalk Trail, or desire to make a longer trek into the backcountry, there are options available for visitors of all skills and abilities. 100 National Park Road To find out what equipment you should have and what you need to know before heading out on the trail, visit the hiking safety page for more information. The numerous hiking-only trails at Congaree lie within a floodplain. Distance: 0.3 miles (one-way distance), This short trail branches off from the Bluff Trail and provides access to the Longleaf Campground. On the other side of the trail, giant cherrybark oaks stand at near-record size. The Cedar Creek Canoe Trail is a roughly 15-mile paddle through the heart of Congaree National Park, beginning at Bannister Bridge and continuing all the way to the Congaree River. Because the majority of the park lies within a floodplain, the terrain is generally very flat with only slight elevation changes. Distance: 0.6 miles. The Bluff Trail passes through a young forest of loblolly and longleaf pines. Congaree regional map. Round Trip Distance: 3.2 miles. The flat surface is accessible and provides a leisurely way to experience the Congaree wilderness. If you want to check out some of the monster trees that make up Congaree National Park's famed old-growth bottomland forest, take a hike on the Oakridge Trail, an easy 6.6-mile trek offering a Whitman's Sampler of hardwoods. The Bates Ferry Trail is a 1.1-mile trail located on the eastern edge of Congaree National Park. Note: Bridge J is damaged (~2.5 miles from Cedar Creek Canoe Access) and is impassable. And Wateree Rivers wind through the park 's newest trail, which was opened in late 2017, provides to... The lower portions were flooded explore and experience the old-growth characteristics that led advocates in backcountry! 25 miles of boardwalks, there are many ways to explore the park 's trail... 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